My Briefcase is Too Heavy – Should I Switch to a Backpack?

I’m carrying about 20 pounds of stuff in my briefcase these days. I’ve got a laptop with the power charger, a couple of reference books that I have to have every day, some personal items, papers — you get the idea. I’m not thrilled with the idea of a backpack with a business suit, but I’m also tired of hurting my back. Anything I can do?

Community Answers

282

4-17-12

Geoffrey says:

Definitely don’t go with a backpack and a business suit. It looks unprofessional and the backpack will ruin the lines of your jacket, which sort of defeats the purpose of wearing one.

First thing I would recommend doing is just paring down what you’re carrying! Try to only carry the laptop and its peripherals, plus whatever few pieces of printed paper you need. Leave books either at work or at home — if you need one both places, see about borrowing a spare copy and leaving one at each.

If you absolutely can’t avoid the weight, then yeah, don’t ruin your health just to look good — split the load up. A nice briefcase and a leather satchel or messenger bag slung over a shoulder can share the weight between them without looking quite so out-of-place in business settings as a briefcase.

I can recommend the Coach Everyday bag. A good, versatile, everyday bag that serves all your stuff-carrying needs. It’s roomy enough to fit your laptop, Ipad, work papers and your gym clothes. Another bag, is the new breed of Tote bags. It’s more masculine with the way it looks and it is the right size and shape for the usual work necessities and they now come in higher-end materials.